Rose Cottage : Natural Beekeeping

Natural Beekeeping Overview

Workshops for Families

We ran a series of sessions for home-educated children, with content suitable for a wide range of ages. They were very quickly fully booked (with a waiting list). Apologies to the people we were unable to fit in series. We hope you will be able to join us this year.

People who attended tell us they and their children found it enjoyable and interesting. We are running similar sessions for families in 2018. Please get in touch if you would like to attend but the dates offered are not suitable. We should be able to arrange something! For more details of the family sessions, see the Family Workshops page.

Workshops for Adults

Several parents attending our workshops in April 2017 asked us to run similar events for adults. So we're planning to do just that, as well as repeating the family workshops. Don't worry: these will be just as interesting as the family ones.

Our adults workshops are also suitable for teenagers, but we ask that you come to a family workshop if you want to bring younger children.

Friendly, Informal and Interesting

The idea is to give some insight into our approach to beekeeping and the thinking behind it.

Each workshop is held round the kitchen table here at Rose Cottage, with a flexible, informal approach and a chance to visit some of our beehives. Whether there will be many flying bees to see will depend on the weather on the day.

Beginning at 10.30am, we plan to finish mid-afternoon, with a refreshment break around midday. Any profits will go towards honeybee welfare.

Is This For Me?

If you have an interest in bees, this will prove interesting. There are no preconditions or requirements. You may have no knowledge of, or experience with bees, or plenty.

This isn't a training course for beekeepers, but previous participants have gone on to keep bees themselves.

Our approach is very different to that promoted by the British Beekeepers Association and their beekeepers training schemes. In some respects our views and attitudes are the opposite of theirs.

Amongst other topics, we cover:

the history of bees and beekeeping

the life cycle of honey bees

bees' role in the world

honey bee products

environmental and other pressures on bees

how we can help bees

Although the bees may not be flying out for forage, depending on the weather, there will be opportunity to see them in a hive (through a window) and you will be able to handle some wax comb that they have made.

Lip Balm and Soap

There is an opportunity to make some lip balm using beeswax (from our hives), organic shea butter and organic coconut oil. And perhaps some of our Honey Soap

Flowers

Participants will probably be able to take home seeds or plants to grow to help bees. The details are yet to be finalised!

Seed Bombs

We shall make seed bombs. A small ball of clay and compost, containing wild flower seeds, providing a starter environment for the flowers to establish themselves. In the spring, drop these in appropriate places where they can grow.

Wild flowers are important for wildlife. With a bit of luck, the seeds in the seedbombs will grow into plants and set seed themselves, starting generations of bee-friendly plants.

Best not to lob seed bombs into your neighbour's garden; they may not be pleased. A patch of ground in your own garden, a pot, or a little corner you know of where you can watch them grow would be best.

Honey

We have a little honey to taste. We collected a little honey last spring when the bees had some to spare, giving you a chance to taste real honey from bees never fed on sugar – which you can't get anywhere else!